Russia has signed a pact of aggression: Bhutto
KARACHI AUG. 11, The Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, Mr. Z. A. Bhutto has bitterly criticized the Soviet Union for what he called the signing with India of a pact of aggression,” report agencies.
In hospital recovering from a hernia operation. Mr. Bhutto told reporters yesterday that the treaty signed by Foreign Ministers Andrei Gromyko and Swaran Singh could embolden New Delhi to launch an aggression against Pakistan and China.
He said that following the failure of its foreign policy in West Asia, the Kremlin was now turning its attention to the Indian subcontinent for two reasons: First—to avoid its visible isolation following developments in the Sino-American Relationship and second to disturb peace in South-East Asia.
Mr. Bhutto asked the Pakistan Government to review its foreign policy in view of the latest development in New Delhi-Kremlin ties.
Meanwhile the Soviet Council of Ministers yesterday approved the Indo-Soviet treaty of peace, friendship and co-operation signed in New Delhi, Tass announced.
The treaty was next sent to the Presidium immediately studied the Government’s report on the treaty and submitted it to the Foreign Affairs Commissions of the Supreme Soviet’s of the Union and Soviet of Nationalities, Tass said.
Pravda and other Central Moscow newspapers yesterday spread out on their front pages the text of the treaty.
They published long excerpts inside from speeches of the Soviet an Indian Foreign Ministers at the singing ceremony.
Pravda featured separately a summary of the speech made by the Prime Minister at Monday’s public meeting in Delhi in which she claimed the treaty would make the country stronger and that it was open for other friendly States to sign such agreements with India.
Radio Moscow said the Soviet people had welcomed the singing of the Indo-Soviet treaty.
In a commentary the radio said Soviet Union wants stable peace in Europe and other parts of the world. The Soviet policy of international co-operation is known to all and is a noble struggle for peace and for this noble struggle, India and the Soviet Union are working hand in hand.
Yugoslavia has received the treaty with “great attention.”
Political circles in Belgrade stressed that the two sides underlined the significance of the policy of non-aligument and it means that India made it clear to the Soviet Union that its non-aligned policy was to keep away from power blocks. The Soviet Union had accepted that position.
The USA today again withheld any comment on the signing of the treaty which has taken Washington by complete surprise.
The State Department spokesman. Mr. John King said Government experts were still studying the contents of the new treaty. He could not say how long this study would continue and when a U. S. assessment of the treaty’s portent could be expected.
The Guardian said yesterday restraints in Indian military action, in view of the possibility of President Yahya invoking Chinese intervention had become weaker now after the Indo-Soviet treaty with “its pointed reference to possible attacks or threats”
It said India and Pakistan were now running out of all options but open conflict. It was “an ominous scenario, a scenario clouded by bloodletting, full of risks and incalculable furies
It could be changed only if world opinion could somehow change President Yahya’s course and if India were given massive and effective help the paper added.
The treaty amounts to a deliberate move to neutralise China, the Government-owned Pakistan Times said today.
The paper which is often used to reflect the military regime’s views, said in an editorial: “The treaty amounts to a deliberate move to create a situation in which India may feel free to attack Pakistan with the assurance that the Soviet commitment to aid India would provide a deterrent to Chinese intervention on our behalf.”.
The paper urged the USA to play a “constructive role in this otherwise highly inflammable situation.’
The New Times another Rawalpindi daily, said: “If the Russians are real and genuine seekers of peace on this subcontinent,” the Soviet Foreign Minster. Mr. Gromyko should visit Pakistan and offer a similar treaty to the military Government.
The People’s Party newspaper “Musawat” today labelled the treaty as a “war pact” and quoted observers here as saying New Delhi and Moscow were conspiring against Pakistan and China.
The paper said the treaty buried the Tashkent Declaration and ended the Soviet Union’s role as a neutral country in Indo-Pakistan affairs.
The Government owned Rising Nepal today said the treaty added “a new dimension to the concept and practice of nonalignment policy”
Mr. Kamaruzzaman, Home Minister of the Bangladesh Government has stated in an exclusive interview to “New Vave” correspondent that his Government and the people were profoundly grateful to India and the Soviet Union for the “firm support” they were giving to the cause of Bangaldesh.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 12.8.1971